Fw: Ismaili Mail
S J
Ismaili Mail |
|
Ishan Mandani Awarded Young Achiever 2008 Posted: 31 Jul 2008 02:11 PM CDT Ishan Mandani was awarded the young achiever of 2008 by the South Asian Excellence Awards on May 10, at Waldorf Astoria in Manhattan New York. The Award ceremony was televised on July 13 by Sony entertainment Television on SET (Indian Channel). 
Ishan with American Idol contestant Sanjaya
Winners Fact
Sheet About the South Asian Excellence Awards          |
S J
Ismaili Mail |
|
Aga Khan Film - US Film Festivals Posted: 30 Jul 2008 02:09 PM CDT AN ISLAMIC CONSCIENCE: the Aga Khan and the Ismailis film has been accepted into the following US film festivals scheduled over the next few weeks: West Hollywood, California: West Hollywood International Film Festival Wed, July 30: 8:30PM Seattle, Washington: Tasveer Sunday, Aug 3rd: 1-3pm Houston, Texas: Bayou City Inspirational Film Festival Sat, Aug 9: 4:10pm |
        |
 |
|
Higher education just got higher by Naseem Salila Gulamhusein Posted: 30 Jul 2008 11:08 AM CDT Article at the original source. Yoga is not an ancient myth, buried in oblivion. It is the most
valuable inheritance of the present. It is the essential need of today and
the culture of tomorrow. While finishing a degree at UBC, I dreamed of a curriculum that included yoga and wellness. I had already completed a degree at Langara College and I was well aware of the stress and pressure placed on students to succeed. –snip– Spirituality and religion have always been a part of my life. Growing up, I was exposed to a diverse cultural and religious background. My father is Ismaili Muslim, born is East Africa, and my mother is Catholic, born in Northern Ireland. As a little girl, on Friday nights I would accompany my father when he went to the mosque. On Sundays, I attended church with my mother. Hearing the words of God, Allah, Jesus and Mohamed, I would think to myself how similar they all sounded; the meaning and message were about living by one’s virtues and helping those in need. |
        |
 |
|
Shaqiera Ladhu - Aspiring Poetess Posted: 30 Jul 2008 10:12 AM CDT Closer than you think..
Click here to read the poem Closer than you think.. at our Spirit and Life blog |
Shaqiera was born in London, UK in 1992. She has been writing
poems since the age of eight years when she was first taught basic poetry
at school. She felt inspired to write ‘Closer than you think’ after
her very first Didar at Excel Centre in London during early July, where
the initial ideas began. She subsequently went to Lisbon, Portugal
for a second Didar. She was heartbroken when Imam departed at the
end of both mulaqats but was comforted by the thought that his Noor is
with her. On her way home from the airport after having two
breath-taking Didars, Shaqiera could do nothing but write.        |
 |
S J
Ismaili Mail |
|
Aga Khan Museum Mindanao - helping understand Maranao culture better Posted: 02 Aug 2008 09:35 AM CDT A Christian Perspective: Source The Muslims in the Philippines have 13 ethno-linguistic groups, majority are located in Mindanao - my homeland. The Maranao tribe (which means people of the lake) is the most visible of them primarily because many are engaged in trading. The Maranaos are also famous for their art works, sophisticated weaving, wood and metal craft and their epic literature. It has been my privelege to personally witness how rich this culture is having spent 5 years of my life in a predominantly Muslim region of the country - the Islamic City of Marawi. Yep, I spent my college years in my beloved alma mater - the Mindanao State University. It is however sad to say that not many are given the chance to experience and appreciate this and it is more unfortunate that this is because of the biases and prejudices we have as a people. Ah, the never-ending Mindanao conflict… Anyway, as a Christian, I too have my biases - we were brought up that way. And some of these biases have basis. However, many of them also are baseless. What helped me to understand the culture of my Maranao friends (and the Muslim Filipinos in general) was the Aga Khan Museum named in honor of King Aga Khan. The museum is located inside MSU (350 meters from the entrance) and serves as a repository for Maranao and other Moro artifacts. |
        |
 |
|
Jhoom Jhoom: Celebration of a Lifetime Posted: 02 Aug 2008 08:00 AM CDT
Karim Gillani (Class of 2003) has released an album last February entitled ‘Jhoom Jhoom: Celebration of a Lifetime’ to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of His Highness the Aga Khan’s accession to the Imamat. This collection of music comes from musicians of diverse backgrounds and cultures, including Romanians, Algerians, East Africans, Indians, Pakistanis, Americans and Canadians. Despite the differing backgrounds of all those who contributed, Karim maintains that because all of the songs were performed and recorded in Canada it gives Jhoom Jhoom a truly Canadian sound. |
 |
S J
Ismaili Mail |
|
Posted: 01 Aug 2008 02:47 PM CDT
The Dushanbe Serena will be a state of the art, five-star hotel that
will support Tajikistan’s efforts |
        |
 |
|
Arif Lalani interview - receives medal from Hamid Karzai at Palace ceremony Posted: 01 Aug 2008 01:27 PM CDT 
Arif Lalani in his office in Kabul, Thursday July 31, 2008. THE CANADIAN PRESS Tobi Cohen Interview with Arif Lalani - Canadian Ambassador to Afghanistan Canadian Ambassador receives medal for distinguished service from the Afghan President at a ceremony at his palace Lalani heads to the London School of Economics |
 |
|
World Bank Provides Additional Funding to Support Sustainable Operation of the Pamir Power Plant Posted: 01 Aug 2008 01:22 PM CDT WASHINGTON, July 31, 2008 – The World Bank Board of Executive Directors today approved a US$2.5 million grant in additional financing for the Pamir Private Power Project. The additional financing will help cover the costs associated with a financing gap caused by the unexpected need to restore and repair equipment and facilities damaged by flooding at the Pamir 1 Hydro Power Plant (HPP) in the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) of Tajikistan. The financing will also enable the project company Pamir Energy (PEC) to complete the original project scope by focusing on rehabilitation of plant infrastructure and provision of parts and equipment to ensure the plant’s long-term sustained operation and prevent further accidents. Pamir 1 HPP accounts for 75% of the capacity in the main grid system of GBAO, which is operated by Pamir Energy (PEC), a fully privately owned special purpose company, under a 25-year concession given by the Government of Tajikistan to operate and further develop all existing electricity generation, transmission, and distribution facilities in GBAO. The concession was developed under the Pamir Private Power Project (PPPP), which is a successful public-private partnership between the Government, the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AWED), as the main private sponsor, and the IFC. |
        |
 |
|
Helicopter to the Roof of the World - from Pology’s Blog Posted: 01 Aug 2008 01:00 PM CDT http://blog.pology.com/index.php?id=415
|
        |
 |
|
Comprehensive Quotes of Aga Khan IV Posted: 01 Aug 2008 08:00 AM CDT Comprehensive Quotes of Aga Khan IV and others relating to Knowledge, Intellect, Creation, Science and Religion from 2007 CE down to 322 BCFrom Easy Nash at his: Science and Religion in Islam: The Link http://gonashgo.blogspot.com/2008/02/327comprehensive-quotes-of-aga-khan-iv.html |
        |
 |
S J
Ismaili Mail |
|
His Highness the Aga Khan visits Harvard’s Graduate School of Design Posted: 03 Aug 2008 02:31 PM CDT
Dean Mohsen Mostafavi welcomed His Highness the Aga Khan (AB ’58) at the GSD on June 4 with a luncheon. Joined by his son, Prince Hussain; daughter-in-law, Princess Khaliya; and daughter, Princess Zahra, (AB ’94), His Highness the Aga Khan met with students and faculty participating in The Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture at Harvard University, M I T. Hashim Sarkis, Aga Khan Professor of Landscape Architecture and Urbanism in Muslim Societies at the GSD, cited the powerful impact the Aga Khan programs have had at the GSD, at Harvard, and MIT. His Highness the Aga Khan was in Cambridge to celebrate his 50th reunion and receive an honorary doctoral degree from Harvard University President Drew Faust for his outstanding service through the Aga Khan Development Network. The organization operates social, economic, and cultural entities, to particularly benefit the Third World.
Source: http://www.gsd.harvard.edu/news/aga_khan_6.4.08.html |
        |
 |
|
Review of the show “Ali to Karim” Posted: 03 Aug 2008 02:18 PM CDT
By Nazim Karim
|
        |
 |
|
Azim’s Bardo - A Father’s Journey from Murder to Forgiveness Posted: 03 Aug 2008 08:30 AM CDT
On January 21, 1995, Tariq Khamisa, a 20-year old college student at San Diego State University, was killed at point-blank range by a young 14-year old named Tony Hicks. Tariq was making his last pizza delivery of the evening. Tony, hanging with other gang members, was part of a group of young people who had lured “the pizza man” to a false address intending to rob him of two pizzas. Tariq Khamisa refused to hand over the pizzas, and was shot and killed before he could drive away from his attackers. It was a brutal, senseless crime that made national news. … The marvel of this story, the story of Azim’s response to his only son’s death, is that at the core of Azim Khamisa was a spiritual connection not just to the tragedy he was experiencing, but also to the devastation experienced by the relatives of Tony Hicks, and even young Tony himself. Instead of revenge, Azim Khamisa sought restoration. “There were victims at both ends of that gun,” he told a friend shortly after the murder. He added: “The quality of the rest of my life would hinge on how I handled this tragedy.”… The most memorable parts of this book, however, are the not just Azim’s words, but also the words of his family, his friends, his associates at the Foundation, and even the words of the prosecutor. Together, they highlight struggles at the core of understanding and accepting not just restorative justice, but also forgiveness, which is central in Azim’s way of seeing: “The criminal needs the victim’s forgiveness to heal. And in one of human nature’s strange twists, full healing for the victim may require him or her to grant that forgiveness. There may be no other way to put down the destructive anger.” Amazon
Hardcover - Amazon paperback - Google Book search - World Catalog |
        |
 |
|
Climate change biggest threat to life on earth: briefing hosted by AKRSP Posted: 03 Aug 2008 08:00 AM CDT GILGIT: Federal Minister for Environment Faridullah Jan Afridi said Saturday the “climate change” was one of the biggest concerns of today’s world that could even threaten life on the earth if drastic measures were not taken. His said this during a briefing hosted by PMAC, a project of Ministry of Environment, and Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) here Saturday. The minister was on his maiden two-day official trip to the region where, in recent times, rupture of glaciers and vanishing of water reservoirs have drawn world attention. “I assure you that the Ministry of Environment through its project (PMAC) will extend all possible support to Northern Areas (NAs) for the conservation of natural resources,” the minister assured the participants. |
 |
S J
Ismaili Mail |
|
The Ismailis: An Illustrated History Posted: 05 Aug 2008 10:30 AM CDT
The IIS has just launched The Ismailis: An Illustrated History which was authored and edited by Dr. Farhad Daftary and Dr. Zulfikar Hirji (Class of 1997). Dr. Hirji is currently Assistant Professor of Anthropology at York University, Toronto. Other IIS alumni who were involved with the book were Dr. Fahmida Suleman (Class of 1997), Dr. Miriam Ali-de-Unzaga (Class of 2000) and Alnoor Merchant (Class of 1987). The Illustrated History is based on the most recent academic research on Ismaili and Islamic history, and is meant for the general reader. The book has four main chapters that take the reader from the advent of Islam and the formation of the Shi‘a through to the historical developments that led to the formation of the Ismailis and their history up until the present-day. Each chapter contains a synopsis, maps and chronology of key events, as well as special sections devoted to important figures, themes and events in Islamic, Shi‘i and Ismaili history. Many of the beautiful images of manuscripts and objects in the book are found in private and public collections, and some are here published for the first time. The book also narrates the history of the Ismailis using contemporary and historical photographs of places and landscapes. |
 |
|
University of New Brunswick professor hopes to make her mark on sexual education in India Posted: 05 Aug 2008 09:15 AM CDT A New Brunswick researcher known for shaping the province’s sexual education curriculum is hoping to make a similar impact in India. Sandra Byers, a University of New Brunswick psychology professor, recently travelled to the South Asian country to begin work on a project aimed at teaching young people more about sexual health. Her research in 2004 helped change how New Brunswick schools approach sex education and she said she hopes to use that experience in her work in India. –snip– “The federal government in India is attempting to implement a new sexual education program, but there’s fierce debate about what to teach and when to teach it,” Byers said. –snip– India has a high number of teen pregnancies and one of the highest rates of untreated sexually transmitted infections among adolescents, Byers said. –snip– She and four other UNB researchers travelled to India last week to meet with five researchers from the Forum for Application of Integrated Total Health and the Aga Khan Health Services of India. Together they’ve applied for funding through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. |
 |
|
Ismaili Muslim Adult Choir performed at Third annual African Peace Festival in Vancouver Posted: 05 Aug 2008 09:05 AM CDT On the 5th of July 2008 the third annual African Peace festival was held in Vancouver. The festival, organized by the African Peace Forum was held at the Roundhouse Community Centre in Vancouver. It attracted a lot of performers and artistes like Jacky Essombe, Ezeadi, Jean Pierre Makosso, Lazare, Ogedengbe Drummers, Kutapira, Joe Amouzou, Ndidi Cascade & Deanna Teeple. Others were Sudanda, DJ MTS, Mandido, Pepe Danza & Navaro, Franco, MC Clement Apaak, Ismaili Muslim Adult Choir and Mukatano. http://www.thepatrioticvanguard.com/article.php3?id_article=2930 |
        |
 |
S J
Ismaili Mail |
|
Week-in-Review — August 3, 2008 Posted: 04 Aug 2008 07:00 PM CDT
Ismaili Muslim Author, Azim Khamisa, talks about how he handled the death of his son, in his book, ‘Azim’s Bardo - A Father’s Journey from Murder to Forgiveness. From USA, the Ismaili Youth Group in Glenview, Illinois participate in a parade, adding to it’s cosmopolitan flavor.
The documentary, An Islamic Conscience has been accepted into US Film Festivals in West Hollywood, Seattle and Houston. At our Spirit and Life Blog this week, we reflected on a few excerpts from some of His Highness the Aga Khan’s speeches where he talks about Education. We read a poem by Shaqeira Ladhu, ‘Closer than you think’, which she was inspired to write after the didars she had in London and Lisbon, and pondered on an excerpt about Meritocracy from the address by His Highness the Aga Khan at the Nobel Institute in Oslo, Norway. We concluded the week with an excerpt about Clash of Ignorance on both sides from His Highness the Aga Khan’s Closing Address by His Highness the Aga Khan at the “Musée-Musées” Round Table Louvre Museum. That is all from this week, hope you will be looking forward to more exciting and interesting news and stories next week. Click here for last week’s review. |
        |
 |
|
Samiah Razzak: Teen Needs Bone Marrow Transplant Posted: 04 Aug 2008 02:03 PM CDT |
        |
 |
|
Posted: 04 Aug 2008 10:23 AM CDT |
        |
 |
|
Posted: 04 Aug 2008 09:58 AM CDT Rafique Sayani was born in Karachi, Pakistan in 1976 and moved to London UK in 2005. Rafique is a Chartered Accountant (ACCA) with a Masters in Business Administration (MBA). He recently developed an interest in poetry, and began to compose poems focused mainly on the relationship between a murid and the Imam of the time. He draws inspiration for the poems from his prayers as well as from many moments of contemplation. |
        |
 |
S J
Ismaili Mail |
|
Launch of The Ismailis: An Illustrated History Posted: 06 Aug 2008 03:50 PM CDT
Co-authored by Dr Farhad Daftary and Professor Zulfikar Hirji, The Illustrated History contains over 400 illustrations, including images of manuscripts, artefacts and monuments, community documents as well as important historical and contemporary photographs. Based on modern scholarship in Ismaili Studies and the broader field of Islamic Studies, the book offers a comprehensive and accessible account of Ismaili history and intellectual achievements, set in the wider contexts of Islamic and world history.
Click here to read complete text at Institute of
Ismaili Studies |
        |
 |
|
Microfinance Institution in Syria Posted: 06 Aug 2008 10:37 AM CDT From July 2008 issue of Syria Today: Syria’s first microfinance institution will start operating in the coming weeks, giving a diverse range of small businesses, professionals and individuals access to financial services that would otherwise remain out of reach to them. An initiative of the international development agency Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), the First Microfinance Institution (FMFI) will provide small loans, deposit facilities and a range of other financial services to clients in six Syrian governorates. “Our prime objective is poverty alleviation, but our loans don’t just target the poor,” Bassel al-Hariri al-Rifai, head of microfinance at FMFI, said. “Around 90 percent of the Syrian population doesn’t have proper access to financial services. There are various reasons for this including low average income and tax avoidance.” March
2003 press release by AKDN on Microcredit |
        |
 |
|
Alim’s Photographs from Central Asia Posted: 06 Aug 2008 10:36 AM CDT There are lots of interesting and informative photographs at the site, including Ismaili Jamatkhana and people. |
        |
 |
|
An interview with Mr. Eazaz A. Dar, Senior Program Manager at PCP Posted: 06 Aug 2008 10:16 AM CDT
|
        |
 |
|
Internship with the Mountain Societies Development Support Programme Posted: 06 Aug 2008 09:52 AM CDT
shrummer16 has recently finished an undergrad at the University of Guelph, she is now in Tajikistan for an 8-month internship with the Aga Khan Foundation.
|
        |
 |
|
Global thinking, local research - Prof. Dr. Nazim Madhavji Posted: 06 Aug 2008 09:24 AM CDT
One year as a visiting professor in Paderborn and its consequences Paderborn. Even a two hours discussion makes clear, with whom it has to do: An animated scientist who wants to help the world. No wonder that the Paderborn students stormed his lecture, although he is obviously in English to them. And it also has something abstract such as “software development model.” PDF article attached in German: gastprofessor-in-paderboner-uni |
        |
 |
S J
Ismaili Mail |
|
Young Pakistani scientists honoured Posted: 07 Aug 2008 09:17 AM CDT As many as 10 students from different academic institutions were awarded for bringing laurels to Pakistan this year at various engineering competitions around the world. The awards were distributed at a ceremony organised here on Wednesday by the Intel Education Initiative, as the award winners were also participants of the National Science Olympiad (NSO) held in Islamabad earlier this year by Intel in collaboration with the Ministry of Education. Zahra Suleman Tejani, Sara Moiz Ali and Arif Payarali of the Aga Khan Higher Secondary School, Karachi, were recognised on the occasion for receiving the First Position Special Award by the American Intellectual Property Law Association at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2008. |
        |
 |
|
Syria’s first microfinance institution is preparing to launch this summer Posted: 07 Aug 2008 09:15 AM CDT Damascus, Syria, August 07, 2008 - Syria’s first microfinance institution will start operating in the coming weeks, giving a diverse range of small businesses, professionals and individuals access to financial services that would otherwise remain out of reach to them. An initiative of the international development agency Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), the First Microfinance Institution (FMFI) will provide small loans, deposit facilities and a range of other financial services to clients in six Syrian governorates. |
        |
 |
|
Two healthcare centers open in Badakhshan under support of the Aga Khan Health Service Posted: 07 Aug 2008 09:14 AM CDT Two healthcare centers open in Badakhshan The Badakhshan Healthcare Directorate Head Shodi Jamshedov told Asia-Plus that the healthcare centers had been established in the villages of Babrrushan and Vamar under support of the Aga Khan Health Service (AKHS). As he said, the healthcare centers are dedicated to promote development of family medicine in Rushan rayon. “Three physicians and six nurses work with the centers,” said Jamshedov, “The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the US Department of Agriculture have allocated US$38,000 through AKHS for implementation of this project.” |
        |
 |
Nizar
Ismaili Mail |
|
Speech by Council President Mahmoud Eboo Posted: 09 Aug 2008 10:30 AM CDT
Speech by Mahmoud Eboo, President of His Highness Prince Aga Khan Shia Imami Ismaili Council for the United States, Australia and New Zealand, at the Youth Summit and Diversity Dialog held at SMU (Southern Methodist University, Dallas TX) |
        |
 |
|
Additional information from Ali to Karim show Posted: 09 Aug 2008 10:12 AM CDT
Blog: Offscript http://www.theismaili.org/cms/498/Offscript
Episode Synopses http://www.theismaili.org/cms/497/Episode-Synopses Cast Biographies http://www.theismaili.org/cms/496/Cast-Biographies Source: http://www.theismaili.org/a2k |
        |
 |
| You
are subscribed to email updates from Ismaili Mail To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. |
Email Delivery powered by FeedBurner |
Inbox too full?  Subscribe to the feed
version of Ismaili Mail in a feed reader. | |
| If you prefer to unsubscribe via postal mail, write to: Ismaili Mail, c/o FeedBurner, 20 W Kinzie, 9th Floor, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |